Scope and Content

The collection comprises 90 letters from Dora and Teddy Wedlock, covering their postings with the Admiralty to Wei-hai-wei in North China, Trincomalee in Ceylon, and Hong Kong (1924-1932), to Mrs Helen M. Heynes who lived at Southsea, England. The letters discuss family matters including Helen Haynes's children and their joint interest in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The letters also illustrate well what life was like for the wife of a naval officer posted abroad during this period. The letters also give some indication of national and international events.

Administrative / Biographical History

Teddy Wedlock worked for the Admiralty. From 1924-1928 he and his wife Dora were stationed at Wei-hai-wei Naval Dockyard, North China, where he served as Second Officer to Mr Lofts, the Store Officer to the Naval Dockyard. From 1929- 1931, the Wedlocks were based at the Royal Naval Dockyard at Trincomalee in Ceylon. From 1931-1932, they were stationed at HM Naval Dockyard, Hong Kong. Whilst there, they lived in a suite of rooms in the Knutsford Hotel in Kowloon. Dora Wedlock had a strong interest in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Arrangement

The correspondence has been arranged chronologically, following the Wedlock's various postings from 1924-1932. There are large gaps in the series, where letters do not appear to have survived. There is a detailed list of the contents of each letter in Box 1.

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Acquisition Information

Donated in March 1994.

Other Finding Aids

Unpublished handlist

Related Material

Associated Material held elsewhere: Papers of the Admiralty [class ref. ADM] are held at the Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Surrey, TW9 4DU.